High honor for Hampton Beach lifeguards chief

Patrick Cronin

Tuesday

Jun 5, 2012 at 2:00 AM

HAMPTON — Jimmy Donahue said he's overwhelmed that the new lifeguard station at Hampton Beach is now named in his honor. Still on the job at 68, the lifeguards chief admitted it will be a little weird going to work every day seeing his mug on the building.

HAMPTON — Jimmy Donahue said he's overwhelmed that the new lifeguard station at Hampton Beach is now named in his honor. Still on the job at 68, the lifeguards chief admitted it will be a little weird going to work every day seeing his mug on the building.

"It's going to be strange to walk into a building with a plaque with your name on it and you're not dead," joked Donahue, who is entering his 53rd season at the beach.

The new lifeguard station, recently completed as part of the $14.5 million redevelopment project, was dedicated to Donahue during a ceremony on Saturday. Torrential downpours did not prevent hundreds of his closest friends, colleagues, former guards and state officials from honoring him.

State Rep. Fred Rice, R-Hampton, presented Donahue with proclamation from the governor in honor of his half-century-plus of exceptional service, including 39 years as head of the lifeguards.

Rice said Donahue has in his time seen three police stations, three bandstands and three changes in ownership of the Hampton Beach Casino.

The one constant at Hampton Beach, he said, has been Donahue and his well-trained crew of lifeguards.

"He's the anchor of this beach," Rice said. "He makes sure everyone is trained as well as he was when he first started in 1960, and he's not finished yet."

For Donahue, the night was bittersweet.

"It feels like yesterday I was walking down the beach as a 16-year-old just out of the tenth grade as a first-year guard," Donahue said. "I was damn proud of that bathing suit."

Executive Councilor Beverly Hollingworth recalled a story she heard about a young Donahue, who used to run and jump into the sand, with the goal of one day becoming Superman.

While Donahue may not have become Superman, Hollingworth said, he saved countless lives as a lifeguard and later as a teacher.

"I asked the people who Jimmy has trained as lifeguards, who he taught and friends and family members to tell me the one word that best describes Jimmy," Hollingworth said.

"They said Superman," she said as she presented Donahue a Superman cape.

Former Seacoast Parks Supervisor Brian Warburton, who was the master of ceremonies for the dedication, said Donahue's devotion and countless hours spent with generations of families that come each summer to Hampton Beach have made him a household name.

Donahue, he said, has shaped Hampton Beach State Lifeguards Beach Patrol into one of the top organizations of its kind in the country.

"Chief Donahue is a coach, mentor, teacher, and a producer of many fine young men and women under his tutelage," Warburton said.

One of those was New Hampshire State Police Col. Robert Quinn, who was a lifeguard in the 1980s.

"Jim, I want to thank you for giving me the job when I was a fresh, young, untanned kid who just wanted to fit in," Quinn said. "You built us all up, and I want to thank you for the memories."

George Bald, commissioner of the state Department of Resources and Economic Development, said Donahue was more than deserving of the honor.

"I don't know if we will ever have someone who will serve again for 53 years with the same amount of commitment and passion that he has," Bald said.

Donahue said lifeguarding has been a dream job.

He worked as a guard during summer breaks from high school and Boston University, and also when he taught physical education and science at Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School in Haverhill, Mass.

While he retired from teaching, Donahue said, he's not ready to hang up the lifeguarding suit. Going into his 53rd season on the job, Donahue said he's not sure how long he will keep going.

"It's so hard to give this job up," Donahue said. "Each year I say, 'This is it and I'm not going to come back.' But over the winter I change my mind and have to go back. It's part of me. You're reluctant to give up something that keeps you young. Coming back each summer and mentoring these young guys, keeps me young."

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